A whirlwind of particles from the depths of a sunspot is heading our way.
The solar storm will meet Earth’s magnetic field this Monday.
Besides an extremely vivid display of lights, the power grid and mostly all electronic devices will be put to the test today.
The Sun has laid dormant for well over a decade now, and as it shifts to its solar minimum cycle, an abundance of solar events are expected to unfold.
What the Earth will be facing today is just the start of a massive particle bombardment that will take place over the next eleven years – the timespan a solar cycle last.
The cosmic foreseers at Space Weather announced that “a minor hole in the sun’s atmosphere is turning towards Earth and spewing a stream of solar wind in our direction. The estimated time of arrival is April 22nd. Geomagnetism unrest and polar auroras are possible when the gaseous material arrives.”
Although they make this sound like a minor event, keep in mind that the Earth’s electromagnetic field has constantly been weakening.
Furthermore, solar particles have caused the power grid to go down and have messed up communication system on a global scale in the past.
If the solar storm is strong enough, it can overcharge the magnetosphere, which will then send a strong electric input into the power lines on Earth.
If something like this occurs, it is likely to have dire consequences.
The power stations and electrical transformers could blow up and leave entire areas without electricity.
Satellites in Earth’s orbit can also be affected, making communication devices all around the globe to malfunction.
GPS navigation will then fail, which could lead to aerial, maritime and terrestrial incidents.
However, the Earth’s magnetic field is expected to withstand today’s solar storm, which is caused by a minor sunspot.
These are dark areas on the Sun which form due to extreme magnetism occurring in the bowels of our star.
Whenever there’s too much pressure, overcharged particles gush out and pass through everything standing in their way.
This time around, the solar storm will target Earth and the rest of celestial bodies around it.
Although this sunspot is viewed as a minor one and might not make such a notable impact, if a coronal mass ejection (CME) will happen anytime in the future, you better have your protective gear and emergency plan in place.
Even so, with the magnetic field surrounding our planet getting weaker and weaker, even solar storms of moderate magnitude could have a severe impact on our lives.
Scientists have already warned that the magnetic north pole is shifting at an alarming rate, and this could cause “trillions of dollars” in damage.
Besides the power grid that risks getting fried by these solar particles if our protective field is depleted, we’ll also be much more exposed to radiation, which could exponentially increase the risk of developing cancer.
The worst-case scenario could even spell mass extinction on Earth!
We might be lucky this time around, but this doesn’t mean we should sit and wait doing nothing.
The best way to protect against harmful radiation is to build your roof or ceiling from aluminium, acquire thermal blankets, and maybe start building your underground vault that could potentially save you a spot in a post-apocalyptic world.
Remember, this is not about thinking in a positive or negative way. Some cataclysmic event will occur sooner or later, it’s the way things are.
The best thing to do is to think ahead and constantly prepare for what’s to come.
